Joel

Themes Insights Joel

Theme 1 : 1-2:17: The Lord will bring calamity and judgement against the people for their disobedience. Joel proclaimed judgement against the nation of Judah telling of a coming destructive swarm of locusts who would ravage the fields. ( 1:1-4).Destruction of all the harvests and the removal of offerings to the Lord foretells calamity. ( 1:5-10). A call for repentance and worshiping the Lord is made. ( 1: 11-14). The destruction of the Lord is to be so severe that even the animals would cry for mercy. ( 1:15-20). A call is made to be prepared for the Lord's judgement as a swarm of locusts ravaged the land. ( 2:1-6). This disaster is a direct judgement from the Lord for the people's disobedience and will be a harsh one. ( 2:7-12). The people are encouraged to repent and to seek the Lord's healing and forgiveness. ( 2:12-17).

Theme 2 : 2:18-3:21: The restoration of Judah and the blessing of the Lord. The plague of locusts would end and prosperity would be restored. Most importantly the people's relationship with the Lord would be restored. ( 2:18-27). The coming day of the Lord's judgement is announced and those who sought the Lord would be saved and in that time the Lord's spirit would be avaliable to all who sought him. ( 2:28-32). The nations who opposed Israel would be judged . ( 3:1-3). The coastal nations surrounding Israel would also be judged( 3:9-17). The prophecy concluded with the blessing of the Lord being poured out on Zion , the Lord's dwellling place and the place of Temple worship. ( 3:18-21).